Sheet feeding apparatus



Dec. 12, 1939. L. BAKER 2,183,121;`

SHEET FEEDVING' APPARATUS Filed July 2, 1938 s sheets-sheet 1' yINVENTOR LEONARD BAKER ATTORNEY SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed July 2,1938 l3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (4o 4 939 lNvENToR' G LEONARD BAKER ATTORNEY 4Dec. l2, 1939'. BAKER 2,183,128

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed July 2f, 1938 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q IM `84naf- "45j s INVENTOR LEONARD BAISER ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 12, 1939UNITED STATES SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Leonard Baker, Hillsdale, N. '.I.,assignor to Dexter Folder Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application July 2, 1938, Serial No. 217,199

14 claims.

'I'his invention relates to sheet feeders and more particularlyto pileelevators and mechanism for operating the same.

One object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeder havingnovel and improved mechanism for imparting either intermittent orcontinuous motion, as desired, to a pile elevator of said feeder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feederwherein intermittent or continuous movementk of its pile elevator andcontrol of such movements may be eectively and conveniently obtainedthrough the provision of a single, unitary mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeder'wherein the sheet feeding elements and usual driving means therefor arerelieved from the strain of' operation of the sheet supply moving meansthrough the provision of separate and unitary operating mechanismtherefor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feederwherein intermittent upward movement of its pile elevator, as well asAcontinuous and rapid up and down movement thereof, may be obtained froma'single selective gear transmission through the provision therein of apawl and ratchet mechanism operated by certain gears thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, generally, aselective gear transmission unit by which intermittent motion, as wellas continuous motion, may be imparted to a part of a sheet feeder or anyother machine or instrumentality.

These and other objects of the present invention, will appear as thefollowing description 4thereof proceeds and in order to more clearlyunderstand said invention reference may be had to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate one embodiment of said invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a sheet feeder embodying the presentinvention; y

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the sheet feeder shownin Fig. l; l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, ofthe pile elevator operating mechanism and control means therefor i@shown in Figs. l and 2;V

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary rear eleyvation of the pile elevatoroperating mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, partly'in section, of themechanism` shown in Figs. 3 and 4 looking from the left thereof andillustrating in inoperative positionv a pawl and ratchet device andcontrol means therefor form,- ing part of said mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an enlargedvertical transversesectional view on the line 6-6of Fig. 4;

Fig. 'l is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the pawl and ratchetmechanism and control means therefor in operative position; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of the pawl and ratchetmechanism, showing means for disconnecting said mechanism from the pileelevator when it is continuously and rapidly raised or lowered.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the severalviews, the present invention is shownas embodied in a sheet feeder having a frame comprised by front heads 5and rear heads 6 connected together by side members 1.

The front and rear heads 5, 6 are secured to,

of this j ack shaft I2 is journalled in a suitable bearing provided by abracket I3 that is bolted or otherwise suitably secured on one of thefront heads 5. Fixed onthe upper end of jack shaft I2 is a bevel gear I4which meshes wth'a similar gear I5 fixed on a short shaft.I6 journalledin suitable bearings inthe bracket I3 and the adjacent front head 5.Fixed on the short shaft The main and usual drive for the 2 I6 is alspur pinion I1 which meshes with a spur gear -I8 that is fixed ona camshaft I9. yThis cam shaft I9 is journalled in suitable bearings in 'thefront heads 5 and is utilized to operate the sheetseparating,vforwarding and conveying devices (not shown) -of the feeder.

The sheet feeder includes a pilevelevator comprising cross beams 20adapted to support a pile board 2|' and pile of sheets 22 thereon. Thecross beams 20 engage. over side members 23 connected, as by.couplings24, with chains 25 the links of which engage over teeth of sheaves 26fixed on and'rotated by shafts 2l. Shafts 21 extend longitudinally of-the feeder frame and are journalled in suitable bearings in brackets 28and 29 which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the front heads5 and side members 7,'respectively. Fixed on shafts 21 are right andleft hand worm gears 30 and 3| that mesh with right and left hand worms32 and 33 fixed on a shaft 34 which is driven in a manner hereinafterdescribed to operate the pile elevator. Shaft 34 extends transversely ofthe feeder frame and is journalled in suitable bearings in the bracketsThe sheets are separated and forwarded one after another from the top ofthe pile by separating and forwardly devices of the suction type (notshown) which are suitably connected with the vacuum side of a pump 35.Preliminary to the separating and forwarding of sheets from the top ofthe pile, the upper portion of the pile and each sheet separatedtherefromis winded by winding devices (not shown) which are suitablyconnected with the air side of pump 35. These devices form no part ofthe `present invention and it is therefore unnecessary to illustrate anddescribe the same in detail. Pump 35 is bolted or otherwise suitablysecured to a pair of cross rails 36 which are bolted or otherwisesuitably secured at opposite sides of the feeder frame to brackets 31carried by the front upright posts or standards 8 and resting on thebrackets I0.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the feeder isprovided with novel and improved mechanism for intermittently raisingthe pile elevator and pile of sheets 22 thereon to maintain the top ofthe pile in proper feeding position, and for continuously and rapidlylowering and raising the pile elevator to load or reload it. Thismechanism is preferably mounted, constructed and operated as follows.Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the cross rails 36 at one sideof pump 35 is a housing indicated broadly at 38 (Figs. l to 4 inclusive)and comprised by an inner shell 39, an end plate 4|, an intermediateplate 40, and a cover 51 all bolted together in any suitable manner.Bolted or otherwise suitably -secured to the plates 40, 4| of housing 38at the tops thereof is an electric motor 42 (Figs. 1 and 2) connectedwith a suitable source of current and controlled for starting andstopping purposes 'by suitable switch means (not shown).

Fixed on the armature shaft 43 of motor 42 is a sprocket 44 around whichpasses a chain 45 that also passes around a sprocket 46. This sprocket46 and a part 41 of a clutch indicated broadly at 48 (Figs. 3 and 4) aresecured to or formed integrally with each other and loosely mounted on ashort driving shaft 49 which extends through the housing 38 and isjournalled in suitable bearings in the plates and 4| thereof. The clutch48 is of well known construction needing no detail description hereinand includes another part 50 which is xed on the driving shaft 49. Theparts of the clutch 48 may be connected and disconnected by a device 5|(Fig. 3) loosely and slidably mounted on the driving shaft 49 andprovided with a collar 52 in the groove of which extends an operatingfork 53. This fork 53 is xed on one end of a shaft 54 which is slidablymounted in suitable bearings ina bracket 55 bolted or otherwise suitablysecured to plate 4| and in a lug 56 formed on the cover 51. Cover 51 ofhousing 38 encloses a pawl and ratchet mechanism hereinafter describedfor intermittently raising the elevator. Pivotally connected with theopposite Vend of shaft 54 is one end of a link 58 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) theopposite end of which is pivotally connected with a lever 59 that ispivotally mounted on a stud 60 secured in a lug 6| formed on the cover51. It will thus appear that vthe clutch parts 41 and 50 may beconnected and disconnected through movement of the lever 59 in oppositedirections and thus connect and disconnect the motor 42 relative to thedriving shaft 49.

The driving shaft 49 is provided longitudinally thereof with a key 62(Figs. 3 and 4) between the plates 40 and 4| of housing 38. Fixed on andslidable along the driving shaft 49 and key 62 is a spur gear 63 which,when in the full line position shown in Figs. 3'and 4, meshes with asimilar gear 64 that is keyed or otherwise suitably secured on anintermediate shaft 65 (Figs. 3, -4 and 6) adjacent the plate 4| ofhousing 38. Shaft 65 is journalled in suitable bearings in the plates 48and 4| of housing 38 and is connected, as by a flexible coupling 66,with the shaft 61 of pump 35 to drive the latter. Keyed or otherwisesuitably secured to the intermediate shaft 65 adjacent the plate 40 is aspur pinion 68 which meshes with a spur gear 69 that is loosely mountedon the driving shaft 49. This spur gear 69 is provided with a long hub10 (Fig. 3) which extends through the plate 48 of housing 38 into thecover 51 thereof.

Clamped or otherwise suitably secured to the outer end of hub 10 is acrank disk 1| (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) the crank pin 1| of which is pivotallyconnected with one end of 4a link 12 the opposite end of which ispivotally connected with the pin 12 of a pawl carrier 13 that is looselymounted on a driven shaft 14'. This driven shaft 14 extends through thehousing 38 and is journalled in suitable bearings in the plates 4D and4| thereof. Fixed on the outer end of driven shaft 14 is a bevel gear 15which meshes with a similar gear 16 that is xed on one end of avertically extending inclined jack shaft 11 (Figs. l and 2). Jack shaft11 is journalled in suitable bearings in brackets 18 and 19 which arebolted or otherwise suitably secured to one of the brackets 31 and toone of the front heads 5, respectively. Bracket 18 also provides anadditional bearing for the extended end of shaft 14. Fixed on the upperend of jack shaft 11 is a bevel gear 80 which meshes with a similar gear8| that is fixed on the worm shaft 34. It will thus appear that movementof the pile elevator is imparted thereto by the jack shaft 11 throughthe described connections therefor with the driven shaft 14 and the wormshaft 34.

The driven shaft 14 may be rotated intermittently in the properdirection to impart step by step upward movement to the pile elevatorand pile of sheets 22 thereon, and this intermittent rotation of shaft14 is preferably effected and controlled by mechanism of the generaltype disclosed in the application Serial No. 116,692 of Leonard Baker,George A. Martin and Leo C. Williams, led December 19, 1936. Thismechanism includes the pawl carrier 13 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) which has apawl 82 pivoted thereon and normally resting on a pawl mask 83 out ofengagement with a ratchet 84 that is xed on the driven shaft 14. Thepawl mask 83 is loosely mounted on shaft 14 adjacent the ratchet 84 andyieldably 'connected with the pawl carrier 13.

Stopping of the pawl mask 83 to permit pawl 82 to engage and drive theratchet 84 is effected by an overbalanced latch 85 (Figs. 3 and 5) whichis pivoted as at 86 on the cover 51 above a plunger 81 that is slidablymounted in a housing 88 formedintegrally with said cover. Co'nnectedwith the housing 88 at the bottom thereof t' strain of intermittently'raising the elevator dur- 2,188,128 is one end of a. flexible conduit89 the opposite end of which is connected with a housing 90 (Figs. 1 and2) which has slidably mounted therein a detector 9| that rests bygravity on the top of the pile 22 at the rear thereof. Housing 90 isbolted or otherwise suitably secured to a cross bar 92 which, in turn,is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to brackets 93 that are.adjustably secured on side bars 94 supported in brackets 95 bolted orotherwise suitably secured to the side members 1 of the feeder frame.Connected with the housing 90 is one end of a flexible conduit 96 whichis suitably connected with the air side of pump to supply air underpressure in said housing.

When the top of the pile of sheets 22 is at the proper height, nocompressed air will be delivered in the housing 88 and the latch 85 willbe held in the position shown in Fig. 5 above the path of travel of mask83 so that the latter andthe carrier 13 for pawl 82 will oscillate idly.When the top of the pile 22 and detector 9| lower sumciently so thatsaid detector admits compressed air in the conduit 89 and the housing88, said air will raise the plunger 81 and swing theflatch 85 to theposition shown in Fig. 7 into engagement with the pawl mask 83 to stoprotation of the same and enable the pawl 82 to engage and drive theratchet 84 and shaft 14 to raise theI elevator and the pile of sheets.

When the top ofthe pile has reached the proper height the detector 9|will cut off the supply of compressed air to conduit 89 and housing 88whereupon the plunger 81 will drop by gravity in the housing and thelatch,85 will be swung to its inoperative position. The carrier 13, thepawl 82 thereon, and the mask 83 will then oscillate idly until it isagain necessary to elevate-the pile 22, whereupon the above describedoperations of the pawl and ratchet control means are repeated so thatshaft 14 may be actuated to raise the elevator. It will thus appear thatthrough oscillation of the pawl carrier 13 by the `described drivingconnections therefor with motor 42, and through engagement of theoscillating pawl 82 with the ratchet 84, the driven shaft 14 will beintermittently rotated and thus rotate worm shaft 34 through thedescribed driving connections therefor with said shaft and raise theelevator and pile of sheets thereon. It will further appear that duringnormal operation of the feeder, the pump 35 and pawl carrier 13 throughthe described driving connections therefor with motor 42 will becontinuously driven to create vacuum in the sheet separating andforwarding devices, supply air under pressure to the pile and sheetwinding devices, and actuate the pile elevator under the control of thedetector 9|.

It will further appear that in accordance with another aspect of thepresent invention, the pawl and ratchet mechanism is driven, as by themotor 42, from a source of power independent of the source of power fordriving the means that imparts motion to the sheet feeding elements ofthe feeder and that in this manner the severe ing the normal operationof the feeder, is eliminated from the motion imparting means for thesheet feeding elements with resulting longer life 'and vless wear of thevarious'parts constituting Moreover, location of the pawl and the same;ratchet mechanism and driving means therefor at a point remote from theline of sheet travel results in less spoilage of sheets due to oil dripyping from said lmechanism and driving means.

When it is desired to reload the pile elevator, or to initially load it,said elevator may be rapidly lowered to a position to receive a pile ofsheets which-"is placed thereon through the rear of the feeder. Inaccordance with the present invention this rapid lowering of the pileelevator is preferably effected as follows. The clutch parts 41 and 50of clutch 48 are disconnected by moving lever 59 to'the right (Fig. 4)thereby disconnecting the motor 42 from the driving shaft 49. At thistime gear 63 on shaft 49 is disengaged from gear 64 and moved along saidshaft into mesh with a spur gear 91 as shown in dotted line posisitionin Fig. 4. This spur gear 91 is loosely mounted on the intermediateshaft 65 and meshes with a similar gear 98 that is keyed or otherwisesuitably secured to the driven shaft 14.a Longitudinal displacement ofspur'gear 91 on shaft 65 is prevented by a spacing collar 99 thereon` Itwill thus appear that when the parts of the clutch 48 are again engagedby moving lever 59 to the left (Fig. 4), the driven shaft 14 will berapidly and continuously rotated in the proper direction by the motor 42through gears 63, 91 and 98 thereby rapidly lowering the elevator to theproper position for loading. At this time the parts of the clutch 48 aredisengaged by moving lever 59 to the right (Fig. 4) and the elevator isstopped. It will further appear that when the elevator is rapidlylowered as pointed out above, the intermediate shaft 65, throughdisengagement of gear 63 from gear 64, will be disconnected from themotor 42 thereby stopping the pump 35, crank disk 1| and pawl carrier13.

Shifting of the gear 63 along driving shaft 49 is accomplished by a fork|00 (Figs. 3 and 4) which engages opposite sides of said gear and isbolted or yotherwise suitably secured to a shaft |0I. This shaft |0|extends through the housing 38 and is slidably mounted in suitablebearings in the plates 40 and 4| thereof. Pivotally connected with oneend of shaft |0| is one end of a link |82 which extends through asuitable opening in the cover 51. yThe opposite end of link |02 ispivotally connected with a shift lever |03 that is pivotally mounted onthe stud 60 adjacent the lever 59. The slidable shaft |0| has Yalsofixed thereon a block |04 (Figs. 3, 4 and 8) forms a cam track |06engaged by a roller |01.

Roller |01 is journalled on one arm |08 of a double armed lever |09which is pivotally mounted on a pin ||0 secured in the cover 51. Endwisedisplacement of lever |09 on pin ||0 is prevented by collars secured tosaid pin on opposite sides of said lever. The other arm ||2 of lever |09has loosely mounted therein at the lower end thereof a block ||3engaging in a groove ||4 of the pawl mask 83 which is slidably as wellas rotatably mounted on the driven shaft 14. It will thus appear thatwhen the shift lever |03 and shaft |0| are moved to the left (Fig. 4) tomove gear 63 along shaft 49 into mesh with gear 91, the arm ||2 of lever|09 and pawl mask 83 are at the same time moved to the right so that abevelled annular ange I|5 on the mask will lift the pawl 82 out ofengagement with the ratchet 84 Yas'indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawingsif said pawl sheet feeding operation. For this purpose, further movementof the shift lever ID3 to the left (Fig. 4) disengages gear 63 from gear97 and moves a spur pinion l I6 along shaft 49 to the dotted lineposition indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In this position of pinionH6 it meshes with a large spur 'gear Ill that is also keyed or otherwisesuitably secured to the driven shaft 'M The spur pinion H6 is secured toor formed integrally with the gear 63 and is slidable therewith alongthe driving shaft 49. It will thus appear that when the parts of theclutch i8 which have ben previously disengaged, are again engaged by`moving lever 59 to the left (Fig. 4), the shaft M will be rapidly andcontinuously rotated in the opposite direction by the motor (i2 throughpinion H6 and gear Ill and thus rapidly raise the elevator and the pileof sheets thereon until the top of the pile reaches the proper level forfeeding of the sheets one after another therefrom.

At this time the lever 59 is again moved to the right (Fig. 4) todisconnect the parts of the clutch i8 and stop the elevator. Shift lever|03 is then also moved to the right (Fig. 4) to its full line .positionthus disengaging pinion H6 from gear Hl and again engaging gear 63 withgear 6G to drive the pump 35, crank disk Il and pawl Carrier 73. Whenthe shift lever lis moved as aforesaid, the pawl mask 83 is moved backagain to its normal position by the cam track H16 on shaft ll.

Feeding of sheets from the top of the pile may now be begun or resumedby moving lever Fifi to the left (Fig. 4) thereby connecting the clutchparts of the clutch i8 and the motor (l2 with the driving shaft (i9, andstarting the feeder which during the loading or reloading operations maybe stopped to eliminate unnecessary wear of the various parts f thefeeder during such operations. It is to be noted, that should the rapidraising of the elevator and pile of sheets thereon be stopped before thetop of the pile has reached the proper feeding level, the pawl andratchet mechanism will immediately begin to operate as soon as gear G3is moved into mesh with gear (ifi and the clutch parts of clutch [i8 areconnected to drive the pump 35 and the pawl carrier 13. In this way, andbefore the feeder is started for normal operation thereof, the elevatorand pile of sheets may be rapidly raised to within a certain distance ofthe proper feeding level and thereafter intermittently raised andautomatically stopped when the proper level is reached. This eliminatesany absolute requirement for attention on the part of the machineattendant when raising the pile to the proper feeding level. Locatingand locking of the gear 63 and the pinion' I i6 in each of theirpositions along the driving shaft i9 is accomplished by a spring pressedball H8 (Fig. 4) carried in the plate lli] of housing 38, and engagingin depressions or sockets H9 formed in and suitably spaced along theshaft I Ul.

While one embodiment of the present invention is herein illustrated anddescribed With more or less particularity, it is to be expresslyunderstood that said invention is not limited to said embodiment or tothe specific type of equipment disclosed or otherwise than by the termsof the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator, a housing, a driving shaft in thehousing, a gear loose on the driving. shaft and rotatable independentlythereof, a driven shaft in the housing and connected with the pileelevator, a pawl and ratchet mechanism on the driven shaft, means forconnecting the pawl and ratchet mechanism with and operating it from theloose gear on the driving shaft, an intermediate shaft in the housingand connected with the loose gear on the driving shaft, and means fordriving the intermediate shaft from the driving shaft, whereby saiddriven shaft may be rotated intermittently in one direction by saidloose gear and said pawl and ratchet mechanism to intermittently raisethe pile elevator.

2. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator,'a housing, a driving shaft in thehousing, a gear loose on the driving shaft and rotatable independentlythereof, a driven shaft in the housing and connected with the pileelevator, a ratchet fixed on the" driven shaft, a pawl and a carriertherefor pivotally mounted adjacent the ratchet, a crank fixed on theloose gear and connected with pawl carrier to oscillate the same, anintermediate shaft in the housing and connected with the loose gear onthe driving shaft, and means for driving the intermediate shaft from thedriving shaft, whereby said driven shaft may be rotated intermittentlyin -one direction by said loose gear, the pawl n said carrier, and saidratchet to intermittently raise the pile elevator.

3. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator, a housing, a driving shaft in thehousing, a gear loose on the driving shaft and rotatable independentlythereof, a driven lshaft in the housing and connected with the pileelevator, a pawl and ratchet mechanism on the driven shaft, means forconnecting the pawl and ratchet mechanism with and operating it from theloose gear on the driving shaft, an intermediate shaft in the housingand connected with the loose gear on the driving shaft, means fordriving the intermediate shaft from the driving shaft, whereby saiddriven shaft may be rotated intermittently in one direction by saidloose gear and said pawl and ratchet mechanism to intermittently raisethe pile elevator, and pile controlled meanson the housing controllingthe operation of the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

4. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator, a housing,

' a driving shaft in the housing, a gear loose on the driving shaft androtatable independently thereof, a driven shaft in the housing andconnected with the pile elevator, a pair of gears fixed on the drivenshaft in spaced relation, an intermediate shaft in the housing having apair of gears fixed thereon in spaced relation and an intermediate loosegear continuously meshing with one of the gears on the driven shaft, apawl and ratchet mechanism' on the driven shaft, means for connectingthe pawl and ratchet mechanism with and operating it from the loose gearon the driving shaft, and means for selectively driving a fixed or theloose gear on the intermediate shaft from said driving shaft, wherebysaid driven shaft may be rotated intermittently in one direction toraise the pile elevator or continuously in the opposite direction tolower said pile elevator.

5. In a sheet feeder,'a pile elevator, a housing, a driving shaft in thehousing, a gear loose on the driving shaft and rotatable independentlythereof, a driven shaft in the housing and connected with the pileelevator, a pair of gears fixed on the driven shaft in spaced relation,an intermediate shaft in the housing having a pair of gears fixedthereon in spaced relation and an intermediate loose gearcontinuouslymeshing `vwith qne of the gears on the driven shaft, a pawl and ratchetmechanism on the driven shaft, means for connecting the pawl and ratchetmechanism with and operating it from the loose gear on the drivingshaft, and means for selectively driving a xed gear on the intermediateshaft or a fixed gear on the driven shaft from the driving shaft,whereby said driven shaft may be rotated intermittently or continuouslyin the same direction to raise the pile elevator. l

6. In a sheet feeder, a'pile elevator, a housing, a driving shaft in thehousing, a gear loose on the driving shaft and rotatablel independentlythereof, a driven shaft in the housing and connected with the pileelevator, a pair of gears fixed on th'edriven shaft in spaced relation,an intermediate shaft in the housing having a pair of -gears fixedthereon, in spaced relation and an intermediate loose gear continuouslymeshingy with one of the gears on the ydriven shaft, a pawl and ratchetmechanism on the driven shaft, means for connecting the pawl and ratchet-mechanism with and operating it from the loose gear on the drivingshaft', and means .for selectively driving a fixed or the loose gear onthe intermediate shaft or a fixedv gear on the driven shaft from thedriving shaft, whereby said driven'shaft may be rotated intermittentlyin one direc-tion to intermittently raisethe pile elevator orcontinuously in opposite directions to vcontinuously raise or lower saidpile elevator.

7. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator, ya housing,

a driving shaft inthe housing, a gear loosev on the driving shaft androtatable independently thereof, va drivenshaft in the housing and con-Ynected with the pile elevator, a pair of gears fixed on the driven shaftin spaced relation, an inter-l mediateshaft in the' housing having apair of `gears fixed thereon in spaced relation and an intermediateloose lgear continuously meshing with one of the gears on the drivenshaft, a pawl and ratchet mechanism on the driven shaft, means'forconnecting the pawl and ratchet mechanism with land operating it fromthe loose gear on the driving shaft, means for selectively driving afixed or the loose gear on 'the intermediate shaft from said drivingshaft, whereby said driven shaft Amay be rotated intermittently in onedirection to raise the pile elevator or con\l tinuously in the oppositedirection to lower said\ pile elevator, and means on the housing fordisconnecting the pawl and ratchet mechanism when' said driven shaft isrotated continuously in the opposite direction.

8. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator including driven elements atthetop oir-thefeeder, mechanism at the bottom of the feeder includingapawl and ratchet device connected with said elements for intermittentlyoperating the same, and pile controlled means associated with saidmechanism for controlling the operation of said pawl and ratchet device.

.9. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator, a power unit for operating thepile elevator comprising a housing, a driving shaft in the housing, amointermediate shaft in the housing and connected with the pawl andratchet mechanism -to drive the same, a fixed gear on the intermediateshaft, a loose gear on the intermediate shaft continuously meshing withone of the fixed gears on the driven shaft, a pair of gears fixed on andslidable along the driving shaft for selectively engaging the fixed gearon the intermediate shaft-the loose gear thereon or the other fixed gearon Athe driven shaft, whereby said driven shaft maybe-rotatedintermittently in one direction or continuously and rapidly in oppositedirections, and a lever on the housing for shifting the `slidable gearsalong the driving shaft in opposite directionsand for simultaneouslyconnecting and disconnecting the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

10. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator, a powerunit for operating the-pile elevator comprisingA a housing, a driving shaft in the housing,y amotor on the housing and connectedwith the driving shaft to drive thesame, la Iclutch on the driving shaft for connecting and disconnectingthe motor relative to said shaft, a driven shaft in the `housing andconnected with the p ile elevator, a

pawl and rachet mechanism onthe driven shaft for intermittently rotatingsaid shaft in one direction to intermittently raise the pile elevator, apair of gears fixed on the driven shaft in spaced f relation forcontinuously and rapidly rotating said shaft in opposite direotionsjtocontinuously and rapidly lraise and lower thepile elevator, anintermediate shaft in the housing and connected with the pawl andratchet; mechanism todrive the same, a fixed gear on theintermediate'shaft, a loose gear on the intermediate shaft continuously meshing withone of the fixed gears on the driven shaft, a pair of gears fixed on andslidable along the driving Shaft for selectively engaging the fixed gearon the 'intermediate shaft, the loose gear thereon-or the other fixedgear on the driven shaft, whereby said driven shaft may be rotatedintermittently in one direction or continuously and rapidly in oppositedirections,-a'lever on the housing for connecting and disconnecting theclutch, and a lever on the housing for shifting the slidable gears alongthe driving shaft in opposite directions and for simultaneouslyconnecting and disconnecting the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

1l. In combination, a housing, a driving shaft in the housing, a drivenshaft in the housing and having two gears fixed thereon in spacedrelation, a pawl and ratchet mechanism on the driven shaft, anintermediate shaft in the housing, a fixed gearand a loose gear on theintermediate shaft, the loose gear continuously meshing with one of thefixed gears on the driven shaft, means for connecting the -pawl andratchet mechanism with and operating it from the intermediate shaft, anda pair of gears xed on and slidable along the driving shaft to variouspositions for selectively driving the fixed gear or the loose gear onthe intermediate shaft or the other fixed gear on the driven shaft fromsaid driving shaft, whereby said driven shaft may be rotatedintermittently in Aone'direction or continuously in 13. In combination,a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a paw] and ratchet device on the drivenshaft, and slidable gear means interposed between the driving and drivenshafts and'selectively operable to drive the driven shaft continuouslyin one or the other of two directions from the driving shaft orintermittently therefrom in one of said directions through said pawl andratchet device.

14. In combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a pawl and ratchetdevice on the driven shaft, gear means interposed between the drivingand driven shafts and selectively operable to drive the driven shaftcontinuously from the driving shaft or intermittently therefrom throughsaid paWl and ratchet device, and means for disconnecting the pawl andratchet device when said driven shaft is continuously driven. LEONARDBAKER.

